Filing: Combined with spouse's?

Filing: Combined with spouse's?

12-12-2004, 01:58 PM

I'm just implementing the GTD system this weekend, and it feels great. I have a question about filing, though.

My wife and I have kept a usable filing system for a while now, but it's messy. I would like to start my own filing system for reference and important documents, but I don't know if it's a good idea to have it separate from my wife's. A lot of our stuff is jointly owned, of course (e.g., utilities, home info, etc.) and will need to be kept in the joint system. Is it a good idea to have my own separate system with things that are only of use to me (e.g., my separate bank account and credit cards, contracts &amp; employment info, etc.)? Or is that too complicated?

My wife and I have kept a usable filing system for a while now, but it's messy. I would like to start my own filing system for reference and important documents, but I don't know if it's a good idea to have it separate from my wife's.

This is exactly how Jodi and I do it. She's got an entire file drawer, built in the A-Z fashion we teach, for "Home and Garden." The other one (three full drawers) holds everything else; and yes, we both go into both of them on occasion. Typically, tho, I tend to manage most of the household reference, documentation, and all my travel and client files.

Comment

What is jointly owned is jointly owned but your life is not jointly owned. Don't you have some personal secrets - for example anniversary surprise for your wife? So - in my opinion - some kind of separate personal file system is necessary for any independent human being.
TesTeq